Indexing in Database Systems

This lecture covers the concept of indexing in database systems, focusing on the storage, files, and indexing techniques. It explains how indexes speed up data retrieval by allowing efficient access paths based on search key fields. The lecture discusses different types of indexes, such as primary, clustering, secondary key, and secondary non-key indexes. It also explores the tradeoffs between clustered and unclustered indexes, dense and sparse indexes, and the representation of data entries in indexes. Additionally, it delves into composite search keys, tree-based indexing, and the storage hierarchy, emphasizing the importance of disk storage and the role of flash memory in database management.